The National tribune., 1887-12-15

killed. So we, unconscious Of all this, and re-
ceiving no orders, continued 20 fire on the rebel
battery. which responded slowly and sullenly.
AT & o'clock, having been engaged about two
houres and half and thinking il useless TO
work longer in the dark, we cease firing. The
rebel battery discharged a single gun after
ward, and then all was silent,
And the son moon rose up slowly, and calmly she
On the red sand Of the battlefield. with bloody
corses strewn."
We are anxious TO learn the casualties, and
run about TO inquire. There was one slightly
wounded, William Sparks, and one instantly
killed Private John Il. Smith. While holding
his team ho was shot in the temple, the ball
passing ont Of his neck.
After we ceased firing we remained in posi-
tiOn about an hOur-talkng, watching, listen
ing. Then an officer rides up and says that
although he has no authority, he thinks we
had better Timber up and be ready 10 move
back through the lane 10 the rear, as il is re-
ported that the enemy was in the woods taking
the wounded prisoners aud paroling them. We
timber mp quickly, but do not move Suddenly,
bang bang bang go three guns almost in our
very faces. We were completely taken by sur
prise The shots came from rebel skirmishers,
who advanced out Of the woods on our left
front and approached us unawares. At this
junoture the Captain shouts;
"UNLNBER AND GIVE THEM CANISTER.
BY God, III show them what we are"
We do so as quickly as possible and stand
ready TO fire; but not seeing the foe, and still
being afraid we will fire on friends the order
was not given. We look and listen a few min
utes longer, but neither see nor hear anything
further. Then we Timber up and slowly move
back. We pass few stragglers and part Of a
disabled battery, lMhose2) four Of the guns Of
which fell into the hands Of the enemy during
the hottest part Of the fight. We reach the
high ground nc the head Of the lane and again
go into battery. There, in the silence Of the
night and with sOrrowful hearts, we bury our
lamented cOmrade. Then we marched back
through a skirt Of woods aud took up position
i'm the comfeld. In going there we pass Is
regiments and three batteries of artillery, said
TO be Crittenden's troops sent up TO reinforce
us for the morrow with Gen. Thomas accom-
panying. They had been in hearing and al
most in sight of McCoOks troops all day, and
could easily have been brought up 10 reinforce
McCook and crush the enemy. Why they were
not, perhaps Gen. Buell can answer.
BY the time we had built fires and made cof-
fee il was past midnight. Then we sought the
rest we were so sadly in need Of Before ?
ocoek, however, we were ordered up and
changed the position of our guns so as TO sweep
the wood to the front aud left, as the enemy
was reported TO be advancing his slSirmishers.
We did so and waited in battery till daylight,
meanwhile cooking our breakfasts and prepar-
ing to march. But when morning came no
enemy was there. Only small force of rebel
cavalry remained to watch our movements. A
few shells sent them of in a hurry. Taking up
our line of march, we passed over part OF
yesterdays battlefield.
saw one soldier with his head blown of by
shell or cannon-ball, nothing being left but a
portion OF his lower jaw; another was literally
cut in two by the same means. We discovered
good many rebel dead behind rail fence.
saw good many hundred muskets thrown
down in line and left by a regiment or brigade
OF rebels, who must have become panic-stricken
by our cannonading and 1ed.
The hardest fighting began about p. m,
and was sustained by McCook's Corps, which
was charged by the divisions Of Anderson
Cheatham aud Buckner, all under the CON-
mand Of Gen. Hardee. There was over II, ,00C
in this column, which was hurled against the
Federal left. McCook was over-confdent OF
his own powers and did not send for reinforce
ments for two hours after this attack, or he
might not have been handled SO roughly and
driven back SO far. de made as bad blHnder
at the opening of the battle of Stone River
where he saw his corps successively driven
back by divisions beaten and stranded on the
center under Gen. Thomas.
While we have reason TO censure Gen. Buell.
for his conduct Of the battle of Perryville,
where he permitted one-third of his army e
bear the savage onslaught of a greatly superior
force for five long hours when he had 10000
men within hearing and almost in sight Of the
battlefield ready and anxious 10 fly TO the res
cue, but not daring without ORDERS and M
orders came, we must admit that the army
under his command, in drill and discipline and
in all good soldierly qualities, was the peer o
any army organized during the war, and II
was largely due TO him that il afterward, al
( the Army OF the Cumberland, made record
that will forever brighten the pages of oul
countrys history.